A BBC presenter whose family were murdered by a misogynist with a crossbow has said he hopes women can be inspired by how his daughter ended her relationship with her killer.
On the day that Kyle Clifford was sentenced to a whole-life order for the triple murder last year, John Hunt described the former soldier as a psychopath disguised as an ordinary human being.
Paying tribute to his daughter Louise Hunt and the way she had shown grace and empathy when breaking up with Clifford, Hunt used an emotionally charged victim impact statement to describe how the love of his family sustained him.
“I hope women round the world will take Louise’s bravery as a shining beacon for their lives,” he said, citing his daughter’s disgust at Clifford’s racism and belittling language. “If you feel enough is enough, then it is.”
Clifford, 26, had pleaded guilty in January to the murders and was found guilty last week of raping his ex-girlfriend in a “final act of spite” before killing her with a crossbow.
He shot dead Louise, 25, and her sister Hannah Hunt, 28, with the crossbow and fatally stabbed their mother, Carol Hunt, 61, during a four-hour attack at their home in Bushey, Hertfordshire, on 9 July last year.
Clifford refused to attend Cambridge crown court for his sentencing or to appear virtually, but the judge, Mr Justice Joel Bennathan, said he had no doubt his words and those of the Hunt family would reach him.
In his victim impact statement, Hunt, a BBC racing commentator, said he had initially questioned why he needed to detail the impact of having three family members murdered.
“But then I realised that this was my final opportunity to say what I wanted to say, specifically to you, Kyle, words that will also be directed to your family, who will carry guilt forwards with them for the rest of their lives,” he said.
“They knew about the weapons, they knew,” he added, in a reference to conversations Clifford had had with his sister and brother about his possession of a crossbow.
“I also want to confirm to the world the truth, especially how Louise conducted herself within a textbook mature break-up on her part, understanding the conflict of saying goodbye to someone she once loved, but not allowing those memories to cloud her certain knowledge that you, Kyle, simply failed to be the person she needed. You failed.”
Clifford began plotting the attack two days after she ended their 18-month relationship because he was angry at being rejected. He was also angry at the Hunt family because he “correctly assumed” they had advised Louise to break up with him.
He deceived Carol to gain access to the family home before stabbing her to death and then waited for Louise to return. He restrained, raped and murdered her with a crossbow by shooting her in the back when he became aware that her sister Hannah was returning to the house.
Clifford stopped during the attack to send a text message to John Hunt using Louise’s phone, asking him: “What time are you home?”
After Hannah arrived, she and Clifford shouted and swore at each other but she managed to message her partner to say “he’s tying us up” in the minutes before she was fatally shot.
John Hunt said in his statement that he believed his life had been saved by Hannah, adding: “I firmly believe that, had she not managed to show such amazing physical and mental strength in raising the alarm after you fatally injured her, then I would have been your fourth victim that day.”
Addressing the victim impact statements by John and his daughter Amy Hunt, the judge said in his sentencing remarks: “They showed a gentle heroism of which you, Kyle Clifford, can only dream.”
Handing Clifford “a sentence from which you will never be released”, he described him as “a jealous man soaked in self-pity, who holds women in utter contempt”.
A prosecutor told the judge earlier in the hearing it was “no coincidence” Clifford had sought out podcasts by the self-styled misogynistic influencer Andrew Tate before the murders.
Clifford had watched up to 10 videos of Tate in the lead-up to his crimes.
On Tuesday, Alison Morgan KC, prosecuting, said: “Andrew Tate can properly be described as a poster boy for misogynists, a poster boy for those who view women as possessions to be controlled.
“In that context, and in light of all the other background material, it is no coincidence, the prosecution submit, that it was Andrew Tate that the defendant turned to the night before he would go off to commit these acts of violence against women.”
DCI Nick Gardner from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire major crime unit said the sentence sent a message to men who perpetrated serious acts of violence against women that they would be held accountable and face the full force of the law.
• In the UK, call the national domestic abuse helpline on 0808 2000 247, or visit Women’s Aid. In the US, the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). In Australia, the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. Other international helplines may be found via www.befrienders.org.
